Tragic tale of Swans star’s suicide retold
Matthew Davies tells the extraordinary story of David ‘Tich’ Evans, once described as the ‘most promising footballer in Wales’, who committed suicide under the stands of The Vetch in 1919...
ON December 20, 1919, the South Wales Weekly Post reported: “A shocking discovery was made at the Vetch Field on Thursday afternoon, when one of the Swans’ players, Nicholas, who was practising on the ground, noticed a man lying under the grandstand on the field. He went over to investigate, and was horrified to find that it was “Tich” Evans, one of the most popular players for Swansea Town AFC.
“The unfortunate man had cut his throat. The police were immediately informed and were soon on the scene, whilst Dr Trevor Evans, the police doctor, was summoned, but on his arrival he could only pronounce life extinct, and the body was conveyed on the hand ambulance to the mortuary. The affair created a painful sensation in the town when the news was published.” The background... On April 19, 1915, the footballing authorities announced there would be no further league or cup matches until World War One was over.
A number of Swansea’s players left to fight on the frontline – some, inevitably and tragically, did not return.
Despite the cancellation of league fixtures, friendly games did take place during the conflict, a welcome respite from the horrors of war.
In January 1919, just three months after the attrocities had ended, the new-look Southern League First Division was extended to 22 clubs – with Swansea among them.
A friendly match took place at the Vetch between Swansea and Barry on March 8, 1919, one which would shape Evans’ life.
The game ended in a 3-3 draw, with Evans lining up for the east Wales side.
The excellent young footballer had been making a name for himself during the sporadic war years and impressed the onlooking Swansea directors.
He had played – and scored – against Swansea before – on Christmas Day, 1915, he played for Barry at Jenner Park in a 6-1 win over the Swans, scoring once.
The next day, Boxing Day, he scored at the Vetch in a 1-1 draw between the sides.
After the latest clash between Swansea and Barry, Swansea bought Evans for the sum of £100 in the summer 1919 – much to the constination of the local press.
Evans would also get married that July to Fannie Hawkins, of Cadoxton, Barry, where Evans himself grew up.
It was to be a short-lived marriage.
The move to Swansea – and a dark turn of events...
The start of the 1919-20 season was disappointing for Swansea, with the side not able to put a consistent run of form together. A player called WY Brown was signed to rectify the situation and, even though he was a centre-back, Swansea picked up.
Instrinsic to their improvement was the form of Evans, who had made an impact since his arrival from Barry.
But the first in a series of tragedies was to strike in late autumn, with the death of Evans’ wife.
It is unclear whether she died in childbirth or from pneumonia (or pneumonia brought on from childbirth); she had been unwell for a few weeks.
Understandably, Evans’ form dipped – in fact, it is a wonder he took to the field at all. Further tragedy... Swansea had become comfortable in mid-table by the December of 1919 and were busy preparing for the FA Cup tie against Gillingham at the Vetch. On the Thursday, two days before the match, Evans was absent at a Swansea training session. Jack Nicholas, the club’s player-coach who, according to David Farmer in his Official Biography of The Swans, had taken a father-like interest in Evans since the death of his wife, went to look for him. No sign.
A message was sent to his lodgings. No sign.
Nicholas, then, for some reason, went under the grandstand at the ground. What he would find was described in the South Wales Weekly Post as a “Shocking Discovery”. Nicholas originally thought it was a intruder – according to the local press he sent a message to the Swans correspondent at the Daily Post, Lewis, that “a strange man” had been found gagged under the grandstand.
“Tich”, they state, was immensely popular with the Vetch crowd.
“No doubt the heavy blow he received a few weeks ago by the death of his wife, to whom he was lovingly attached, greatly upset his mind, and since he had not been the same man,” they added.
“Against Brentford there seemed to be no life in him and even in the practises there was not that whole- earted interest which “Tich” always manifested in his efforts. Only on Wednesday, when Mr Watts Jones, the chairman of the club, and myself were watching the Swans at practice, the former remarked ‘there appears to be something wrong with Tich, he is not the same man’.”
Evans had a promising career in front of him, the Post continued, would have been capped for Wales that season, and was billed as the best Swansea signing to date. He was just 24 years old. The aftermath... Evans’ death had a far-reaching effect on his fellow teammates. One of the directors, a Mr Tom Martin, who was early on the scene, was “much grieved” over the affair. The players wore black armbands in the cup tie against Gillingham. But Brown’s rallying call “let’s win it for Tich” did not have the desired effect. For the first time ever Swansea failed to qualify for the first round of the FA Cup.
Uri Geller and the “Curse of the Vetch”...
Fast forward 80-odd years, and celebrity physic Uri Geller claimed he could feel the presence of black spirits lurking in the Vetch in 2001.
He also insisted the mysterious presence was the reason why Evans committed suicide at the ground. The club took his words seriously, hiring Kenyan dancers to perform a voodoo act on the pitch.
But the ritual was cancelled – due to a waterlogged pitch.
“The most promising footballer in Wales”...
The Geller sideshow should not distract from the tragedy of the situation and the sadness that such a bright footballing career was cut so short.
“Tich” was clearly a Wales cap in the making and was a crowdpleaser on the wing at the Vetch.
He was obviously suffering from despression in an era that was not so understanding of mental illness.
The manner of his death is noteworthy and headline-grabbing in its own right, but he should also be remembered and respected for his twinkle toes and his ability, too.
Thanks to Barry Football Heritage for help with this article.